GB12 Mastoid Process Bone

Reviewed by · Licensed Acupuncturist & TCM Physician · Last reviewed June 2026

GB12 (Wangu, “Mastoid Process Bone”) is the Meeting point of GB & TB point of the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. It is located posterior to the ear, in a depression on the inferior border of the mastoid process, approximately 0.4 cun posterior to the hairline. It dispels wind, clears heat, calms the spirit, and benefits the head, neck, and sensory orifices.

Location

Posterior to the ear, in a depression on the inferior border of the mastoid process, approximately 0.4 cun posterior to the hairline.

Needling

Oblique insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, directed inferiorly and anteriorly towards the tip of the nose, or along the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion to prevent injury to the spinal cord.

TCM functions

Dispels wind, clears heat, calms the spirit, and benefits the head, neck, and sensory orifices..

Indications

Headache, neck pain, stiffness of the neck, facial swelling, toothache, caries, throat impediment, mouth and eye deviation, epilepsy, malaria, vexation of the heart, reddish-yellow urine, ear pain, deafness, tinnitus.

Meeting point of GB & TB

Clinical notes

GB12 is a crucial local point for treating wind-related disorders affecting the head and neck, such as headache, stiff neck, and dizziness. Its location near the ear also makes it effective for tinnitus, deafness, and ear pain. As a meeting point with the Bladder channel, it can address occipital and neck tension that extends down the back. It is also noted in classical texts for its use in calming the spirit for conditions like epilepsy and vexation.

On the Gallbladder Channel channel

GB12 is one of 44 points on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. Nearby points:

Frequently asked questions

Where is GB12 located?

GB12 (Wangu) is located posterior to the ear, in a depression on the inferior border of the mastoid process, approximately 0.4 cun posterior to the hairline.

What is GB12 used for?

GB12 dispels wind, clears heat, calms the spirit, and benefits the head, neck, and sensory orifices. Common clinical indications include headache, neck pain, stiffness of the neck, facial swelling, toothache, caries, throat impediment, mouth and eye deviation, epilepsy, malaria, vexation of the heart, reddish-yellow urine, ear pain, deafness, tinnitus.

How is GB12 needled?

Oblique insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, directed inferiorly and anteriorly towards the tip of the nose, or along the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion to prevent injury to the spinal cord.

Which meridian is GB12 on?

GB12 is a point on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian (Zú Shàoyáng Dǎnjīng).

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⚠️ This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Acupuncture is a traditional practice; evidence varies by condition and study quality, and individual results differ. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a licensed professional. Always consult a qualified acupuncturist or physician.